As the 2025 season starts to wind down, the speculation starts as to what the highlights of next year’s ultrarunning campaign will be.
And very near the top of the last has to be the 2026 version of the Western States Endurance Run given what we know so far.
The 100-mile classic has always one of the season’s biggest events – especially Stateside – but it’s shaping up to be something extra special.
Kilian set to return?
Caleb Olson, Chris Myers and the great Kilian Jornet made it a race for the ages as they filled the men’s 2025 podium at Western States.
And all the indications are that the three of them are all set to return, teeing up another potential battle of the generations.
Olson crossed the line on the track at Placer High School in 14 hours, 11 minutes and 25 seconds – the second fastest time ever despite the searing heat and just a couple of minutes off the 2019 course record of Jim Walmsley.
But Myers pushed him all the way and no one was finishing quicker than Jornet after a pacing masterclass on what was his first appearance since his win in 2011. That victory came after he was third on debut the previous year – could history repeat itself in 2026?
Lottery draw in December
And it’s a similar story in the women’s race as the top two from this season – Abby Hall and Fuzhao Xiang are back for more.
Hall’s success was a fairytale one as she bounced back from what had seemed a career-threatening knee injury.
A whole host of other huge names – 2025 third Marianne Hogan and Tara Dower among them – are on the latest registered entrants list which has started to take shape this month and can be found here.
It’s always been one of the toughest races to get a spot and the registration period closed on November 21. The lottery drawing will be held on December 6.
